This is the advice of Philip Hillman, Global Student Housing Co-ordinator at Jones Lang LaSalle and confirmed speaker at the much anticipated OPPLive´s Global Student Accommodation Forum.

Joining a myriad of other A-grade seminar speakers including Marcus Roberts, Director of Student Investment at Savills, James Pullan, head of student property at Knight Frank, Gareth Fatchett, partner at Regulatory Legal Solicitors, Julie Harvey, International Sales and Marketing Director at Pinnacle MC Global Network and just confirmed, Jo Winchester Senior Director Advisory Services at CBRE, Hillman will lead a series of feature seminars, sessions and discussions on the thriving student accommodation asset class.

Held at the prestigious Central Hall in Westminster, London on Wednesday 27th and Thursday 28th November 2013, the OPPLive Global Student Accommodation Forum will offer delegates, be they developers, consultants or agents, a packed programme including:

•Student Accommodation Business Breakfast – looking at the fundamentals of this global asset class and a superb opportunity to network

•Focus session on Student Hotspots: today & tomorrow

•Advice on how to attract international investment into student accommodation

•Speak face to face with industry leaders at the Student Accommodation Champagne Reception

 

•Official unveiling of the first eve OPP Global Student Accommodation report – unmissable!

•Seminar on the hot topic of regulation and how does student accommodation fit in with other ‘alternative’ investments?

•Expert views on the State of the UK Student Accommodation Sector from developers operating in this market as well as advisories and consultants

Xavier Wiggins, Founder and Organiser of OPPLive, comments,

“Supplying purpose built student accommodation around the world has been and remains big business. Many international property developers and indeed agents have identified the high demand in this sector and offered a wide variety of products in numerous locations worldwide to investors. With the sector worth USD 200 billion, it would be criminal not to hold a dedicated Global Student Accommodation Forum at OPPLive 2013.”

Delegates can now purchase passes for OPPLive online through the new registration system available here http://www.opp-live.com/buy-delegatepasses/ with a special offer of the first ticket being FREE with the second half price using code STU9458.

So, you’ve take the plunge and made the wise decision to exhibit at OPPLive, the international property industry’s biggest and best trade event. You’ve committed the time, funds and resource to this leading event which will be held at the prestigious Central Hall, Westminster, London on 27th and 28th November 2013 but how can you ensure success?

With over 12 years’ experience in planning and exhibiting at overseas property events, Naomi Zammit, Marketing and Operations Manager at OPPLive, shares her 6 top tips for exhibitors:

1.Start planning now: 12 weeks seems a long time until OPPLive 2013 but as we enter the busy autumn selling season, time will soon fly by. Draw up a comprehensive “To Do” list covering everything from stand design and production to presentations, AV equipment, furniture logistics and staffing rotas. Be thorough and assign realistic timescales working back from the opening on Wednesday 27th November.

2.Make sure you stand out: At its heart OPPLive is about doing business and with numerous world class exhibitors already confirmed and many more expected, it’s essential that you stand out from the crowd to get that ROI. Think about what delegates will want from your stand; clean and clear messaging is vital as is easy access to market information, product details and commission structures. Use graphics and AV presentations to engage delegates and have knowledgeable staff on hand to answer any questions.

3.Get your marketing collateral in order: The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) recently announced in their new report, Exhibitor Product Information Sharing Practices, that 85% of exhibitors gave out printed brochures and 58% of visitors welcomed information in this format. It may seem old fashioned but the appeal of a tangible, printed brochure is clear. Start preparing any materials now to ensure time for printing and delivery but remember that OPPLive is a trade event so all content must be relevant to agents and developers not consumers.

4.Tell the world that you’ll be at OPPLive: Whilst the team here at OPPLive will do our very best to promote your attendance, we encourage all exhibitors to tell their colleagues and contacts within the industry that they’ll be at the show. A simple email to your B2B database with details of OPPLive, when and where it is and your stand number can be effective so can promotion via social media – just follow us on Twitter or Like us on Facebook. Alternatively use the soon to be launched OPP Meeting Bureau to arrange one to one meetings in advance.

5.On the day: Before you even step foot into Central Hall, set your objectives for OPPLive. Be it speaking to 50 people, collecting 100 business cards or arranging 10 meaningful meetings, be clear on what will be of most use to you. Schedule in time to attend any seminars of interest and ensure that your stand is staffed at all times by a knowledgeable team who are all aware of the event objectives. Exhibitions can be long and tiring but stay proactive throughout, it’ll pay off. Oh and remember regular coffee runs and flat shoes are essential!

6.After the event: Far too many exhibitors think that once the doors close then it’s all over but in fact, this is when the hard work begins. It’s essential to follow up on all those leads generated from OPPLive, action any requests in good time and maintain momentum. CEIR research reveals that 70% of exhibitors sent follow up information via email after an event with 80% of those using this post-event tactic reporting that it was “Highly Effective” or “Effective”.

For more information or advice on exhibiting at OPPLive, contact Naomi and the team on +44 203 540 2231 or visit http://www.opp-live.com/why-who-should-exhibit/.